Baker Greenhouse

Can the cores of tree trunks reveal thepresence of toxins and chemicals in the ground?

Can poplar trees serve as environmental clean-up crews by drawing toxins from the ground?

Researchers study environmental questions such as these, look for solutions and test their theories in the Baker Greenhouse at Missouri S&T. In this rooftop laboratory, faculty and students explore real sustainability and environmental issues we face globally.

Students experience behind-the-scenes views into the world of plant sciences and environmental engineering through direct connections to ongoing research. Undergraduate students can conduct research in the greenhouse for their research or assist faculty and graduate students with research projects like Phytoforensics or finding ways to reduce the arsenic content in rice.

Recognized internationally as a premier environmental research facility, the greenhouse and analytical instrumentation carries our research with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the State of Missouri, the National Science Foundation (NSF), Ministry of the Environment - Ontario, Canada, The French EPA, and BP (i.e. British Petroleum-Amoco).

Students and faculty recently expanded the scope of current research by installing a greenroof on the neighboring Emerson Hall. This 8,000-square-foot project provides real-time data, including exterior temperatures, plant sustainability, stormwater management and treatment and energy benefits.

The Baker Greenhouse was made possible in part by a donation from Chester Baker, CE'55, in honor of his late wife Evelyn.